Celebrating the Spirit of Dance by Wilma Allen

Celebrating the Spirit of Dance by Wilma Allen

Founded by Susan Dodge in 2019, the Amelia Island Dance Festival returns with another outstanding program of classical and contemporary dance.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMELIA ISLAND DANCE FESTIVAL

Susan Dodge

Thanks to the energy, artistry, and vision of Amelia Island resident Susan Dodge, an exciting new vibe has been added to the many pleasures of Amelia Island—one you can experience at home, around town, and in the audience of the Amelia Island Dance Festival, which returns this year in early September.

Dodge, a professional dancer formerly of the acclaimed Paul Taylor Dance Company in New York City and other well-known companies, launched the Amelia Island Dance Festival in 2019. With an expanding band of enthusiastic fans, it has grown substantially since then. Every show each year has sold out, says Dodge. This year’s festival, running September 9 to September 11, will feature a dazzling array of classical and contemporary dance styles, from ballet to hip hop, tap to ballroom, and modern dance.

Star performers from last year will be joined by new nationally acclaimed soloists and ensembles, as well as highly talented local dancers. Saturday and Sunday matinees have been added, and twelve workshops will be offered this year. Performances will take place at Amelia Island Community Theatre (ACT), with its comfortable seating and large performance stage.

Staging and collaboration are especially important to Dodge, who enjoys working with ACT and other local organizations like the Crescendo Amelia Big Band and Story and Song Center for Arts and Culture.

Dodge also loves to create dance amidst the natural beauty of Amelia Island. In 2020, when theaters were closed due to Covid, she enticed dancers to Amelia Island to make “Spots on Amelia,” a video showcasing local landmarks, including ballerinas on the beach, tap dancing at the marina, a pas de deux at the airport, hip-hop on the downtown post office steps, and more. She’s had dancers perform from Boneyard Beach to Egans Creek and Fort Clinch. You can view the videos on the Amelia Island Dance Festival website and YouTube Channel.

“Susie’s a force of nature,” says photographer Steve Leimberg, whose iconic bird portraits played a role in Dodge’s fanciful video, “Birds of Amelia.” The video featured eleven feathered performers, who preened, strutted, tapped, hiphopped, waltzed, leaped, and plied around Amelia Island. In addition, using a haunting composition by local musician Brenda Kayne, Dodge created a moving interpretation of love and loss among spirits of Amelia Island’s historic Bosque Bello Cemetery.

The upcoming festival is a unique opportunity to enjoy a full range of live classical and contemporary dance performances in North Florida. Featured artists include Carlos Garland, frequent dancer in Broadway shows and regular performer at Universal Studios and Walt Disney World; East by North, a New York-based modern dance theatre noted for “perfect blend of movement and stillness;” and Naomi Funaki, tap dancer with celebrated Caleb Teicher and Company, New York City.

Also appearing will be Jacksonville Dance Theatre, a contemporary modern dance company from Jacksonville; The Florida Ballet, 40-year-old classical ballet company whose “Nutcracker Suite” sells out in Jacksonville every year; Nicole Loizides Albruzzese, acclaimed for her athleticism, who has danced for Queen Elizabeth and the royal family of Abu Dhabi; John Manzari, a tap dancer on and off Broadway; Rhythm Tap Ensemble, who have performed their symphony like dance compositions all over Florida and beyond; ValNeda, award-winning professional Latin Dancers; and Mal Stein, musician and composer for Paul Taylor Dance Company, Joffrey Ballet, and other noted companies.

Wonderful local artists appearing include Ballroom On Amelia, the Bean School of Dance, Bodyworks of Northeast Florida, Royal Dance Academy – Fusion, and The Island Tappers.

Performances run Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Amelia Community Theatre. To purchase tickets, visit the festival website at ameliaislanddancefestival. org, stop by the ACT Box Office at 207 Cedar Street, call (904) 261-6749, or visit ameliacommunitytheatre.org/box-office.